incubate
[ in-kyuh-beyt, ing- ]
/ ˈɪn kyəˌbeɪt, ˈɪŋ- /
Save This Word!
verb (used with object), in·cu·bat·ed, in·cu·bat·ing.
to sit upon (eggs) for the purpose of hatching.
to hatch (eggs), as by sitting upon them or by artificial heat.
to maintain at a favorable temperature and in other conditions promoting development, as cultures of bacteria or prematurely born infants.
to develop or produce as if by hatching; give form to: His brain was incubating schemes for raising money.
verb (used without object), in·cu·bat·ed, in·cu·bat·ing.
QUIZ
SPRINT TO THE FINISH WITH THIS OLYMPICS QUIZ!
Compete in our Olympics quiz to see if you can take home the gold medal in Olympics knowledge.
Question 1 of 10
Where was the Olympics first held?
Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing
Origin of incubate
OTHER WORDS FROM incubate
in·cu·ba·tive, adjectiveun·in·cu·bat·ed, adjectiveWords nearby incubate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
How to use incubate in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for incubate
incubate
/ (ˈɪnkjʊˌbeɪt) /
verb
(of birds) to supply (eggs) with heat for their development, esp by sitting on them
to cause (eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop, esp in an incubator or culture medium
(intr) (of eggs, embryos, bacteria, etc) to develop in favourable conditions, esp in an incubator
(intr) (of disease germs) to remain inactive in an animal or human before causing disease
to develop or cause to develop gradually; foment or be fomented
Derived forms of incubate
incubation, nounincubational, adjectiveincubative or incubatory, adjectiveWord Origin for incubate
C18: from Latin incubāre to lie upon, hatch, from in- ² + cubāre to lie down
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for incubate
incubate
[ ĭn′kyə-bāt′, ĭng′- ]
v.
To maintain eggs, organisms, or living tissue at optimal environmental conditions for growth and development.
To maintain a chemical or biochemical system under specific conditions in order to promote a particular reaction.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.